The underlying question raised by Michael Healey’s social satire Generous seems to centre on whether political office, private enterprise or sexual connections are about public service or personal advancement.

The unnecessarily complicated structure — presumably meant to underline that a through line is not required for the playwright to make his point — is set in three offices, a judge’s chambers and two private homes over 15 years. Through three occasionally connected story lines and a cross-gender casting requirement in the opening scene, a series of selfish characters indicate that generosity results by accident, when of use in satisfying the greed of the perpetrators.

The grotesque, cartoon-like opening scene set in the Prime Minister’s Office shouts neither murder nor mayhem can obscure that power is all that matters. A slight shift in the next scene gives sex equal influence on the power ladder and even offers a nod to the influence of journalism. There follows a quirky view of the judiciary and an alternate sexual involvement. The first act closes with a short mimed sequence featuring an abusive relationship, while the second act shifts the lens on power, politics and sexual liaisons to demonstrate even less generosity of spirit.

Despite a lively, fast-moving production from GCTC, Generous (surprisingly an award-winning play when it premiered a decade ago) leaves a bad taste in its wake. On the plus side, the greyness of Jennifer Goodman’s design emphasizes the lack of absolute right and wrong while director Eric Coates and the fluidity of the ensemble keep Generous moving fast enough to blur its lack of subtlety. The overall impression, however, is that it is a terrible disappointment after last season’s offering of Healey’s Proud, the most recent of this trilogy of plays (with Courageous).

 

Generous continues at GCTC to September 27.

 

Generous

By Michael Healey

Great Canadian Theatre Company

Director: Eric Coates

Set and costumes: Jennifer Goodman

Lighting: Jock Munro

Sound: Keith Thomas

 

Cast:

Peter/Richard……………………………………..Matt Cassidy

Tommy/Julia……………………………………..Marion Day

Eric/Alex…………………………………………Drew Moore

Len/David/Sotty………………………………….Adam Pierre

Cathy/Lily………………………………………..Katie Ryerson

Marc/Maria……………………………………….Kristina Watt